the sound of the highway

[alpacinou]

If a house is near a highway, people in it can hear the constant sound of that highway. How can that be described. Is it okay to use swoosh or thunder?

Their house was near the highway. Their windows were most of the time blackened by the soot from the passing cars. They could hear the never-ending swoosh of the highway.

Also, what can I use instead of could hear which would connote they were fed up with the sound of the highway?

 

[Tarheel]

Perhaps:

They were fed up with the constant sound of the traffic from the highway.

 

[alpacinou]

Perhaps:

They were fed up with the constant sound of the traffic from the highway.

Thanks but I want to embellish it for the sake of practice. So, does this work?

Their house was near the highway. Their windows were most of the time blackened by the soot from the passing cars. They could hear the never-ending swoosh of the highway.

 

[emsr2d2]

We don't use "soot" for the stuff that comes out of cars these days. We might have used it a hundred years ago.

 

[alpacinou]

We don't use "soot" for the stuff that comes out of cars these days. We might have used it a hundred years ago.

Do I have an alternative? Is the rest of it okay?

By the way, we have some really old cars in my country from the previous century that are still being used. The belch out a thick black smoke!

 

[tedmc]

How about "exhaust fumes" instead of "soot"?

"Swoosh" is the sound of rushing air or water, which I don't think is an apt description of unpleasant traffic noise. Perhaps: roar/vroom.

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

If a house is near a highway, people in it can hear the constant sound of that highway. How can that be described?

- rumble
- drone
- roar
- racket
- hum
- cacophony
- thrum

Is it okay to use swoosh or thunder?

Yes, indeed!

Their house was near the highway. Their windows were usually blackened by the exhaust from the passing cars. They could hear the never-ending swoosh of the highway.

Also, what can I use instead of could hear which would connote they were fed up with the sound of the highway?

- were deafened by

On you go!